The Concept of Tones
Mandarin is a tonal language where tones change the meaning of words, unlike English, where intonation typically only affects emotion or emphasis.
4 Main Tones and One Neutral
| Tone Name | Tone Mark Symbol | Description | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Tone (High Level) | 一 | Represented by a short horizontal line, indicating a high and level pitch. The tone mark may be omitted. | Marked at the top-right corner of the final character in vertical writing or above in horizontal writing. |
| Second Tone (Rising) | ˊ | Represented by an upward-sloping line, indicating a rising pitch. | Same as above. |
| Third Tone (Falling-Rising) | ˇ | Represented by a downward-then-upward curve, indicating a falling and then rising pitch. | Same as above. |
| Fourth Tone (Falling) | ˋ | Represented by a downward-sloping line, indicating a falling pitch. | Same as above. |
| Neutral Tone (Light) | ． | Represented by a dot, indicating a light and short pitch. | Marked above the character in vertical writing or in front of the character in horizontal writing. |
Explanation and Examples:
| Tone Name | Tone Mark Symbol | ZhuYin/BoPoMoFo Symbol and PinYin | Example Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Tone (High Level) | 一 | ㄇㄚ (mā) | 媽 (mother) |
| Second Tone (Rising) | ˊ | ㄇㄚˊ (má) | 麻 (Hemp) |
| Third Tone (Falling-Rising) | ˇ | ㄇㄚˇ (mǎ) | 馬 (Horse) |
| Fourth Tone (Falling) | ˋ | ㄇㄚˋ (mà) | 罵 (Scold) |
| Neutral Tone (Light) | · | ㄇㄚ· (ma) | 嗎 (Question particle) |
Note: the Tone Mark requires Mandarin font to display the shape correctly. We recommend using Standard Kai font (標準楷書) from Taiwan MOE (Free Download).